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I've have taken the plunge and set aside a Browning A-bolt in .300 WSM, I'm gonna be using for long range stuff 600+

I have a .223 Savage and it is a tack driver but just can't make it out to those sort of ranges,

I am after advice on a scope! SimG is my go to guy when it comes to optics but I just wanted to get other peoples opinion, I'll be looking at about £400 - £500 to spend on something 2nd hand. Is this realistic?

Thanks

I think you'd struggle to get a decent s/h (i.e non-Chinese) scope for £4-500.

For 600 yds plus you'd be looking at a min of 24 power but preferably 32X upwards. A secondhand 8-32 Sightron would do the job and cost you about £650 (There's one on our club notice board for that amount).

The Gun Pimp wrote:I think you'd struggle to get a decent s/h (i.e non-Chinese) scope for £4-500.

For 600 yds plus you'd be looking at a min of 24 power but preferably 32X upwards. A secondhand 8-32 Sightron would do the job and cost you about £650 (There's one on our club notice board for that amount).

I don't entirely agree with this post, but we need more details about what exactly the OP wants to do at 600+ yards- shooting at steels, general "plinking" or benchrest type stuff?

How's the 300WSM barrel life?

zanes wrote:

The Gun Pimp wrote:I think you'd struggle to get a decent s/h (i.e non-Chinese) scope for £4-500.

For 600 yds plus you'd be looking at a min of 24 power but preferably 32X upwards. A secondhand 8-32 Sightron would do the job and cost you about £650 (There's one on our club notice board for that amount).

I don't entirely agree with this post, but we need more details about what exactly the OP wants to do at 600+ yards- shooting at steels, general "plinking" or benchrest type stuff?

How's the 300WSM barrel life?

I generally shoot on military ranges and go for groups, we do have a 1200 yard falling plate range we get to use so would love to tag some of the longer targets (I think figure 12's)

The gun was owned by a stalker and has had very little through it, general rule of thumb seems about 2500 rounds per barrel (interweb search)

I'd say that 2,500 rds is highly unlikely in a .300 WSM barrel.

DW58 wrote:I'd say that 2,500 rds is highly unlikely in a .300 WSM barrel.

You have a .300WSM, whats you experience or thoughts?

Rob

"The gun was owned by a stalker and has had very little through it, general rule of thumb seems about 2500 rounds per barrel (interweb search)"

Hobbesy - this is utter fantasy - OK, maybe for a stalker shooting at something the size of a donkey at less than 70 yards but for target work at 600 yds and beyond, I'd say a third of that.

Have I had a 300WSM? Yes - built one for F Class - a 20lb rifle (no muzzle-brake) and it was horrendous to shoot. I quickly re-barrelled it!

The Gun Pimp wrote:"The gun was owned by a stalker and has had very little through it, general rule of thumb seems about 2500 rounds per barrel (interweb search)"

Hobbesy - this is utter fantasy - OK, maybe for a stalker shooting at something the size of a donkey at less than 70 yards but for target work at 600 yds and beyond, I'd say a third of that.

Have I had a 300WSM? Yes - built one for F Class - a 20lb rifle (no muzzle-brake) and it was horrendous to shoot. I quickly re-barrelled it!

This isn't looking very promising Are you saying drop it and go for something else or are you saying I'll need a new barrel at 800 rounds? The later is totally unacceptable to me as I can't afford a new barrel every other year!

Rob

Your choice Rob!

Every time you pull the trigger you are burning around 70 grains of powder. There's a price to pay for that! And not just in loose fillings........

Why not look at another Savage if you like your 223? You've got the 6BR and 6.5-284 benchrest models to choose from or even a 308 FTR. All will do what you want - personally I'd go for the 6BR.

hobbesy wrote:

DW58 wrote:I'd say that 2,500 rds is highly unlikely in a .300 WSM barrel.

You have a .300WSM, whats you experience or thoughts?

Rob

Yes, I have a heavy-barreled T3 in .300 WSM.

In my opinion for general use you're looking at more like 12-1500 rounds, or less if you abuse it. Mine has around 450 rounds through it so far.